ARE YOU READY FOR TRYOUTS?

The first day allowed for spring practices/tryouts is April 5th.  You and your squads may practice 15 times between April 5th and May 30th .  Remember, this counts your tryout times.  Also, if you JV practices one day and your C-team or Varsity practice another, those days all count towards your 15 day allotment.   

If you are getting ready for tryouts, here is a quick checklist:

____Have you set your date/time/requirements?

____Have you scheduled the gym for your use and cleared the date with your AD?

____Have you done all paperwork (permission form, waiver form, cost sheet, tryout sheet, information sheet, emergency contact sheet, teacher evaluation sheets, important date sheets, etc.)?  Did you provide your AD and administrator with a copy of each sheet? How will you announce the new squad--post list, letters in envelopes, phone calls--discuss your method with your administrator.

____Do you have your judges set?  Do you have a tabulator?  Do you have a reminder to send to them with directions included?  Do you have all information from the judges so that they can be paid on the date of the tryouts?

____Who will teach the material to the prospective cheerleaders?  If you use your seniors, make sure they are prepared.  Make sure you have someone covering dance, sideline, cheer, jumps, and any other category you are critiquing.  Who will lead stretches?  Who will be in charge of music?  Will seniors get to observe the tryout?  Set up a daily itinerary for each tryout practice day to make sure adequate time is devoted to each area being scored. 

____On the day of tryouts, prepare a table for the judges.  On this table provide the following:  plenty of pencils, score sheets, extra blank paper, water or drink, snacks, candy, judges' paychecks.  Make sure you have a table with chairs available.  Set up the dance music.  Have an extra copy of the music on hand.  Set up a separate space for the tabulator.  Provide the tabulator with a calculor and a sheet that lists each prospect as well as a place for each judges' score and a total score.

____Make sure you explain your method of announcing the squad to the prospects.  Give them a time to report back or a time when the list will be posted.  Do NOT be late in your announcing.  Make sure that you constantly remind the prospects that the judges' decision (or your decision) is final!!!

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SURVIVED TRYOUTS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR NEW TEAM?

1-Organize a monthly calendar listing practices, events, any games, uniform sizings, camps, pictures, etc.  Copy and distribute these as quickly as you can.

2-Meet with your new team and their parents: to discuss yearly goals and plans.  Create a phone, address, e-mail list at this meeting.  Copy and distribute these immediately.  Brainstorm any activities you may encounter this year.  Plan team-building activities.  The new squad may want to play a few games at this meeting.  They may want to demonstrate for parents their tryout material all together.  Collect any outstanding paperwork at this time.  Explain the necessity of physicals.  Tell of the school's physical date, if available. Discuss MONEY--amounts due, dates due, consequences of not making a payment, payment plans, etc.

3-Have you set your uniform, shoes, campwear appointment?  Decide on necessesities for the year for your squad. 

4-What camp are you going to?  Plan the dates, pre-camp practices, and fund-raisers so that the experience will be a positive one.

5-Does your squad need new poms, face tattoos, paint, paper for signs?  If you already have sign material, go ahead and assign sign groups.  These groups can get ahead during the summer for those upcoming football games! 

6-Choose captains and co-captains. Many teams now are choosing a team motivator.  This person is in charge of doing little things to lift up the squad.  This may be quotes, snacks, birthday cards.  Choose secret pals if you wish.

7-Update your cheers and sidelines.  Teach new squad members traditional material such as the fight song or band dances.  Provide a list of cheers, sidelines, and dances that all cheerleaders are responsible for.

8-When are team photos made?

9-Plan a little girls' summer cheerleading camp as a fundraiser.

10-Condition, condition, condition!  Make sure your squad is eating nutritiously and exercising properly.

11-Choose a squad motto and a squad song.  Make these a part of every event.

12-Create a simple parent newsletter that will keep the lines of communication open throughout the year.  Send the newsletter to parents on the day you send home a monthly calendar with your squad.

13-Plan to attend the SCACA Summer Clinic in order to meet with other SC cheer coaches!  Make sure your AD has signed you up to be an SCACA and SCCCA member.  (Just ask him, he'll know what you're talking about!) 

14-Get a National Federation Rules Booklet from your AD.  If he doesn't have one, he can get one for you easily!  These rules are for competition and spirit squads alike!

15-ENJOY THE YEAR!  BEST OF LUCK!